Question 1

How does the preposition mangels affect the noun phrase das Trinkwasser?

Accepted Answer

The preposition mangels means "for lack of" and requires the genitive case. Since Trinkwasser is a neuter noun, the definite article becomes des and we add an -s to the end of the noun, resulting in mangels des Trinkwassers.

Question 2

I often see mangels used without any article, like in the phrase mangels Zeit. Why is des used here?

Accepted Answer

You usually drop the article after mangels when referring to an uncountable noun in a general sense (like "for lack of time"). However, when referring to a specific thing—like the specific drinking water they needed that ran out—you include the definite article. Because the article is present, it takes the standard genitive form des.

Question 3

Why do we use wären instead of hätten to mean "would have"?

Accepted Answer

To form the past subjunctive (would have done something), German uses either hätten or wären plus a past participle. Because sterben (to die) indicates a change of state, it requires sein as its helping verb. Therefore, we must use wären rather than hätten to say "would have died" (wären gestorben).

Question 4

Why does wären come before the subject wir?

Accepted Answer

The word Allerdings is an adverb, not a coordinating conjunction like aber. Because it occupies the first position in the sentence, the conjugated verb (wären) must immediately follow in the second position to maintain standard V2 word order, pushing the subject (wir) to the third position.

Allerdings wären wir mangels des Trinkwassers fast gestorben.

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